What we find there (was: How to Get Through the Door)--SPOILERS!!!

[justcarol67]

No: HPFGUIDX 116953


> > SSSusan wrote:
> > 
> > S
> > P
> > O
> > I
> > L
> > E
> > R
> > S
> > P
> > A
> > C
> > E
> > DON'T READ FURTHER IF YOU WANT TO FIND THIS OUT FOR YOURSELF
> > 
> > 
> > I MEAN IT!!
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > So the three chapters are:
> > Spinners End
> > Draco's Detour
> > Felix Felicis
<snip>
> > 3) Given how lion-like the previous description was that JKR gave 
> us,  and Felix the Cat, FELine, etc., how 'bout Felix Felicis for
the new DADA professor?  But chapter 14?  Would it really be FOURTEEN 
> > chapters before we even meet the new DADA prof?  Jeepers, I hope 
> not, as we'd probably be looking at a 50-chapter book, and then
we'll NEVER get it!
> > 
> 
Marcela 
<snip> They have been 'spinning' 
> the news, trying to look good even though they were in bad shape... 
> Jo told us that Fudge will be replaced, she was very sure of it ages 
> ago, like she had written that chapter, proofed-read it and given it 
> the 'OK, to go' green light... <snip>

Carol notes:
Actually, she corrected "Proofread" to read, as the chapters are still
in manuscript (her typed version, probably printed from floppy disks,
judging from her desk), not in proofs (typeset and ready for
corrections by a professional proofreader).
> 
Marcela:
> As for Felix Felicis, those are latin terms related to 'happy' not 
> cats.  Like you, I first thought that it could very well be the name 
> for the new DADA teacher, but chapter 14 is much too late to 
> introduce a new teacher, unless Book 6 has the longest Summer break 
> in all the HP books... I guess anything could be plausible, even 
> that Felix is the half blood prince, but we'll just have to wait...

Carol responds:
Yes, but Felix the Cat is almost certainly a pun that JKR would
appreciate: "felix" (happy), "felis" (cat). I'm guessing that Felix
was a common name for cats from Roman times onward. So Felix Felicis
(Felix the Catlike?? but also Happy Happy, Lucky Lucky, Fortunate
Fortunate??) could well be the tawny-haired, lionlike man, though his
slight limp (IIRC) indicates that he hasn't always been fortunate.
That type of pun or double meaning strikes me as very much in keeping
with JKR's style.

As SSS noted, Chapter 14 is much too late to meet the new DADA
professor, unless he's been mysteriously delayed (and Snape has been
subbing!). I'm guessing that he's the new MoM, or a member of the
Order (possibly an auror) whom Harry meets at Christmas time when he
returns to 12 GP (or wherever Order HQ is now). And FF could
conceivably be the HBP--though what role he might have originally
played in CoS escapes me entirely. The name sounds rather
aristocratic, even princely, although the naming pattern (alliterating
with Latin elements) also fits what we've seen of the pureblood
tradition. He could be pureblood on his father's side and Muggle
aristocracy on his mother's, but a prince? How?

Wonderful. Now I've confused myself. But I do think there's a
felix/felis pun here and that FF is the lionlike man.

Carol, with apologies for not having read the whole thread before
responding